Key for watchmen&#39;s clocks.



A. J. BALDWIN.v

KEY FOR WATCHMENS CLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.20. 1914.

Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

2 SH EETSSHEET l.

A. J. BALDWIN.

KEY FOR WATCHMENS CLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20. 1914.

Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

2 suinssmzn 2. 1

e m H w Lemma) STATES PATENT ens-ion.

ARTHUR J. BALDWIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

KEY FOR, WATOHMENS CLOCKS.

Application-filed November 20; 1914.

equipped 'with a recording key, and the watchman carrieszthe register or clock with :him OILhlSl'OLll'l'ClS. .At each-station the key belonging thereto is applied to or inserted in: the clock thereby omaking on the record sheet orjdial carried inside the elockia record :at. theatime at whichthe key was applied.

.This ini ention has for its chief object to, provide a new form of key .and associated mechanism.

Of the various embodiments of which the invention'is eapable,-I have selected. for illustration and specificpdescription herein the .one which .at' theipresent .timeis considered ito. exhibit the various features of the invention in theirmost convenient and effective form. Thisiembodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side view of-the key and a portion of theregister with whichthe key isk-adaptedto cooperate to produce {an im- 1pression upon the dial within said register.

Thereis :EtlSOdilHStlEtteCl in open position a longitudinal section of one form of receptacle in which the key is ,pivotally contained.

Fig. 2 'illustrates -a longitudinal section ofthe key receptacle in closed or normal position Fis alongitudinalsect-ion of the key itself, showing the impression producing mechanism in normal position.

Fig. 4 illustrates the position of various parts of the-key just at the moment when the impression on the dial is fullymade.

Fig. 5 illustrates the position of theparts when an attempt is made tomake an impression and the key is not inserted sufficiently far into the clock to make an impression at the point desired.

Fig. fifisa-cross-section of the device taken on the line-'66 of Fig. 4,1ookingtoward the clock.

Specification of Letters Patent.

and diagrammatically illustrated in Fig.

the record dial E.

I manner.

Patented A11"; 28, 1917.

Serial No. 873,196.

Fig. 7 is aview of the frontend ofwthe key.

Referring to the drawings in detail the character A des gnates a receptacle located .at each station to be visited and adapted to contain the key 13., which is-piivoted at U to S1.1Cl16(38ptt1(3l. The receptacle-is provided with a suitable closure, hinged or otherwise securedthereto, so as tonormally conceal the'key from 'view. In Fig. 1 is illustrated .a reglsteror clock D provided with a dial E'upon which the desired impressions are adapted to be made bythe key whenever the latter has been inserted-into the perforation m the side of the clock; as shown in Fig. 4,

Before describing the details which .go to =make up the invention, it may be stated at this point-that whenever the receptacle 3L is-opened-the key is automatically turned,

by means ofthe springs F, and the cam edge of the plunger supported in member G, to the full lineposition shown in Fig.1. It is now in position for the clock or register to be applied thereto. Assoonas this is done, the register 1S moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, but during this movement or a part 'of this movement, the actuatin-g plunger supporting member G will be moved longitudinally with respect-to the key andin doing so will ,actuate mechanism describedlater, on-the interior of-the-key casing, to produce the desired impression upon the record dial.

The-key B is provided with a casing 10 slotted at -l1,at the forward end to receive tVithirrthis casing is contained an immovable jaw 12, preferably secured to the bottom thereof in any suitable A companion giaw member '13 is movably secured within the casing 10, being preferably pivoted at the point 14-. The

lower or immovable j aw member 12 is substantially flush with the bottom ofthe slot 11 .andis provided with a die 15, which, in operation, cooperates with a die companion 16 on the movable vjaw-member 13 toproduce an impression upon'the record dial. The lower surface of the die and the outer end of the movable member is substantiallyflush with the upper side of the slot 1.1, andfor holding the same-in this position I employ a spring 17 interposed between said movable fiaw member and the bottom of the casing 10.

The movable jaw member 13 is preferably provided with a cam surface 18 which projects upwardly from the top thereof, adapted to be engaged, in operation, by the cam member 19 mounted upon the resilient rod or member 20, connected to a slide 21, normally resting against the stop 22 projecting inwardly from the pivoted plunger supporting member G. Through this stop 22 the slide 21 is connected to a plunger 23, which not only has a bearing in the stop but also has a bearing in and projects through and outwardly beyond the cam member (1r. For the purpose of maintaining the slide normally against said stop a spring 24 is interposed between said stop and a shoulder on said plunger. If the plunger is now pushed inwardly by any suitable means, as shown in Fig. 5, the pivoted jaw will be i moved only slightly, if at all, for the throw of the cam is too small. However, when the key is being positioned in the key guide 25 of the clock, a stationary plunger member 26 on the latter enters the perforation 27 in the end of the key and engages with and moves the safety cam 28 from its neutral position in Fig. 3 to the operative position shown in Fig. l. If now the plunger 23 is moved inwardly, while the key is held in this operative position, the pivoted jaw will be moved downwardly, as shown in Fig. 4L, thus causing the cooperating dies 15 and 16 to produce an impression upon the record dial. However, it will be seen that unless the key is completely inserted within the key slot an impression or a sufficient impression may not be made; or although the impression is sufficiently distinct, it may not be properly located upon the dial. I therefore provide mechanism to avoid the actuation of the pivoted member before the key has been completely inserted. In conjunc tion with the slidable cam 28, this mechanism comprises a plunger 29, preferably se- I cured to the movable jaw and adapted to pass through a perforation 30 in the casing 10 and enter a perforation 31 in the key guide. The operation will be readily understood. In the normal position of all the parts, as shown in Fig. 3, the pivoted jaw cannot be operated alone by the inward movement of the plunger 23, for assuming that the latter is moved to its extreme inward position, it will preferably just contact with the surface of the cam 28 in its neutral position. If, however, the key is in serted into the clock the plunger 26 projecting from the back of the key guide will enter the perforation 27 and move the cam 28 inwardly out of neutral position in contact or substantially in contact with the cam member 19 connected to the plunger 23. If now the plunger be moved inwardly it would tend to operate the pivoted jaw. However,

about the time the cam 28 begins to move inwardly under the control of plunger 27, the plunger 29, secured to the movable jaw, will begin to ride upon the key guide 25 and will prevent operation of said pivoted member until said plunger 29 comes into register with the perforation 31 in Said guide casing. This registration will be effected only when the ey is fully inserted into the key slot.

From the above, it will be very apparent that unless the key member has been inserted fully into the clock, no impression will be made upon the card. Or, stated in another way, the indicating marks are always punched in a definite position upon the dial by virtue of the fact that the key must be fully inserted to the predetermined position before the pivoted jaw can be operated. The key is provided with a projecting lug 32 (see Fig. 7) which registers with a corre sponding groove 33 (see Fig. 6) in the clock casing. This arrangement prevents the improper insertion of the key into the clock, for, if the lug does not register with the groove, the key will not enter the key slot in the side of the clock casing, as will be understood.

The plunger 29 possesses another important function, to-wit, to prevent the premature separation of the clock and key, for it will be obvious that if the key and clock be separated while the dies 15 and 16 are still in contact, a tearing of the record dial would be inevitable. A casual inspection, however, of Fig. 4 shows that the plunger 29 will prevent this separation until the key is moved downwardly from the dotted line position of Fig. 1 sufliciently to effect a withdrawal of the plunger 29 from the perforation 31 in the female key guide 25. Before this withdrawal is effected, the cam 19 will have been withdrawn from the cam 18, thus permitting a complete separation of the dies 15 and 16 from each other and from the record dial.

The cam 28 and its associated parts are so constructed that an inward movement of the plunger 23 will tend to force said cam back to its normal position, illustrated in Fig. 3. Hence no positive means is ordinarily required to maintain it in neutral position.

From the above it will be seen that the number of movable parts is practically reduced to a minimum; that the key is ca able of being applied. to the orthodox register; and that it is a device positive of operation and cheap to manufacture. \Vhile the construction shown and described herein is the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is limited only by the limitations imposed upon it by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1 A key comprising, in combination, a casing, a stationary and a movable jaw member carried by said casing and each provid'edwith impressi-onproducing means thereon, and means for actuating said movable member to bring the impression producing meansv thereon in cooperation with the impression means on; the stationary awmember.

2. In a key fora watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, a stationary and a movable jaw member carried by said casing and each provided with impression pro ducing means thereon, means for maintaining' the movable member normally separated from the stationary member, and means for actuating said movable member to bring the impression producing means thereon in cooperation with the impression means on the stationary jaw member.

3. In a. key for watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of a stationary jaw secured to said casing and having a record (he thereon, a second jaw pivoted to said casing and havin a die thereon adapted to cooperate with the die on the stationary jaw to. produce an impression upon a record card, and slidable means located within said iasing for actuating said movable member to bring the impression producing means thereon in cooperation with the impression means on the stationary jaw member.

L. In a key for watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of two aw members located in. said casing having cooperating dies thereon, one of said members being rigidly secured and the other of which is pivotally secured to. said casing, means cooper ating with the clock casing for locking the pivoted against operation, and means vtor actuating said pivoted member when the key is. fully inserted to. bring the impression producing mechanism thereon in cooperation withv the impression means in the stationary aw member.

In a key for a watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of two jaw members cooperating in said casing having cooperating dies thereon, one 01: said members being rigidly secured and the other of which is pi votallv secured to said casing, means located within said casing to actuate said pivoted member to. bring the impression producing means thereon in cooperation with the impression means on the stationary jaw member, and means normally out oi but movable into the path of the aforesaid means whereby the latter, in cooperation with the former, actuates the pivotal mem ber to produce an impression on the record.

6. In a key for a watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of two jaw members located in said casing having cooperating dies'thereon, one of said members being rigidly and the other being pivotally secured to said casing, a cam movable relatively to -such casing upon the insertion of the key into the clock, and means cooperating with said movable cam to actuate said pivoted member to bring the impression producing means thereon in cooperation with the impression means on the stationary member.

7. In a key for a watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of two jaw members located in said casing having cooperating dies thereon, one of said members being rigidly and the other member pivotally secured to said; casing, a cam movable relatively to such casing upon the insertion of the key into the clock, and means provided with a cam thereon which, when actuated, is deflected by the aforesaid cam toward said pivoted member, whereby the latter is brought into contact with the stationary men-iber.

S. In a key for a watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of two aw members located in said casing having cooperating dies thereon, one of saidi-nembers being rigidly and the other member pivotally secured to. said casii'ig, a cam; located in-proX- imity to said pivoted member and movable relatively to such casing upon the in sertion oi? the key. and ac'uating mechanism provided with a means thereon which is adapted to be moved between the said cam and the pivoted member whereby the latter is carried to engage with the stationary member.

9. In a key for a watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of two jaw mem bers located in said casing having cooperating dies thereon, a cam located in proximity to one of said members and movable relatively to such casing by the insertion of the key, and actuating mechanism provided. with a means thereon which is adapted to cooperate with said cam after the key has been inserted to move one of said jaw members in contact with the other. j

10. In a key for a watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of two aw members located in said casing having coiiperating dies thereon, a cam located in proximity to one of said members and movable inwardly relative to such casing upon the in sertion ot the key. and mechanism slidably actuated and provided with a resilient means thereon which is adapted to cooperate with said cam to move one of said jaw members in contact with the other.

11. In a key for a watchmans clock, the combination with casing, of two jaw members located in said casing having cooperating dies thereon, a cam located in proximity to one of said members and movable inwardly relative to such casing upon the insertion of the key, and mechanism slidably actuated and provided with a resilient means thereon deflected from its normal path by said cam when actuated, to move one of said jaw members in. contact with the other.

12. In a key for a watchmans clock, the

combination with a casing, of two aw members located in said casing having cooperating dies thereon, one of said members being rigidly and the other pivotally secured to said casing, means for actuating said pivoted member when the key is fully inserted to bring the cooperating dies in contact with each other, and means for locking said pivoted member against actuation just prior to the complete insertlon of the key.

13. In a key for a watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of two jaw members located in said casing having cooperating dies thereon, one of said members being I rigidly and the other pivotally secured to said casing, a cam located in proximity to one of said members and movable inwardly relative to such casing upon the insertion of the key actuating mechanism, provided with means thereon which is movable toward and over the surface of said cam to actuate said pivoted member.

14. In a key for a watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of two members located in said casing and having cooperating dies thereon, one of said members being rigidly and the other pivotally secured to said casing, means for moving said pivoted member to bring the cooperating dies in contact with each other, comprising a cam slidably mounted in the casing, and movable inwardly upon the insertion of the key into the clock, and an actuating member normally resting upon said pivoted lever and substantially in contact with the said cam when the latter is moved inwardlv but movable over the surface of said cam to operate said lever.

15. In a key for a watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of two jaw members located in said casing having cooperating dies thereon, and means for actuating one of said members to bring the cooperating dies into contact with each other, comprising a cam located in proximity to one of said members and movable inwardly relatively to such casing upon the insertion of the key, and means substantially in contact with said cam when the latter is at its inward position and adapted to be moved over the surface of said cam and simultaneously actuate said actuatable j aw-member.

16. In a key for a watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of two aw members located in said casing having cooperating dies thereon, and safety means for actuating one of said members to bring the cooperating dies into contact only when the key is fully inserted into the clock, said means comprising a cam movable inwardly relatively to the casing to operative position upon the inward movement of said key, and means for locking said actuatable member from the time the cam is in operative position until the key is completely inserted.

17. As a means for recording a watchmans trips, the combination of a portable clock having a movable record sheet, and a key secured at a desired station and consisting of a casing, two jaw members located in said casing and having cooperating dies thereon for making a record on the record sheet, one of said members being pivotally secured in said casing, means for maintaining the jaw members in separated position, means for actuating said pivoted member, comprising a slide and a cam normally out of the path of said slide, and means carried by the clock adapted to engage said cam and move the same into the path of said slide.

18. A receptacle in combination with a watchmans key provided with a plunger head through which a pin is adapted to pass to pivot said key to the receptacle, said plunger head provided with a cam surface thereon, and a spring means in said receptacle and engaging said cam surface to automatically move said key into operative position.

19. In a key for a Watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of two jaw members located in said casing having cooperating dies thereon, means for actuating one of said members to bring the cooperating dies into contact with each other to effect an impression on a record dial, and means for preventing the withdrawal of the clock and kev before the dies have separated from each other whereby the tearing of the record dial by the contacting dies is avoided.

20. A receptacle in combination with a watchmans key provided with a plunger head through which a pin is adapted to pass to pivot said key to the receptacle, means in said key for producing a record upon a record die, and means connected with the aforesaid and adapted to engage said receptacle and actuate the aforesaid means upon the oscillation of said key about its pivot.

21. The combination of a pivotally mounted key, means in said key for producing a record upon a record dial, and means for actuating the aforesaid means by the oscillation of the key about its pivot.

22. The combination of a pivotally mounted key, means in said key for producing a record upon a record dial, a plunger in the key adapted to actuate the aforesaid means, and means for actuating the plunger upon the oscillation of said key about its pivot.

23. As a means for recording a watchmans trips, the combination with a portable clock having a movable record sheet, of a pivotally mounted key having means for producing a record upon said record sheet, and means for actuating the aforesaid means upon the oscillation of the key about its pivot.

24. As a means for recording a watchmans trips, the combination with a portable clockhaving a movable record sheet, of a pivotally mounted key insertible in said clock and having means for producing a record upon said record sheet, a safety means movable to operative position'upon the insertion of the key, and means 00- operating with the safety means for actuating the recording means upon the oscillation of the key about its pivot.

25. In a key for a watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of two jaw inembers located in said casing having cooper ating dies thereon, a cam located in said casing in proximity to one of said members and movable to operative position upon the insertion of the key, and actuating mech anism located in said casing and provided with. means which is adapted to cooperate with said cam after the key has been fully inserted, to move one of said jaw members into contact with the other.

26. In a key for a watchmans clock, the combination with a casing, of two jaw members located in said casing having cooperating dies thereon, a cam located in said casing in proximity to one of said members and movable to operative position upon the insertion of the key, and actuating mechanism slidably mounted and longitudinally movable within said casing and provided with means which are adapted to cooperate with the cam after the key has been fully inserted, to move one of said jaw members in contact with the other.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR J. BALDWIN.

Witnesses KATHRYN A. Fox, WM. BOHLEBER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

